Ozone Student Ministry

You can’t neglect the Old Testament and still have a full picture of the revelation of God.  Don’t forget we will continue to explore the Old Testament on Sunday nights at 6PM at Johnson Hughes’ house.  (Email me for directions at chet@fairviewgreer.net).  This Sunday we are looking at Genesis through Deuteronomy.  Come ready to engage your heart and mind and see how the Old Testament brings your understanding of God and His perfect plan ALIVE!!

Parents don’t forget we have a special meeting in Ozone on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 7PM.  We will discuss what our goal is as a youth ministry (To make disciples, hint, hint) and how we can be a part of the disciple making process at home in our church.  We will also discuss our camps, retreats, and mission opportunities for the rest of 2009 and for 2010.

Two things to remember for this week:

1. We are playing Kickball at Fairview Park immediately after Ozone on Wednesday for Ozone Xtra.  Bring sneakers and your game face!

2. A Message from Stephanie Cowan:   Paula Strickland is a recent “ex-youth” who is now serving as a Youth With a Mission in Australia for 6 months.  Instead of trying to send her a “goodie box” we felt it would be better stewardship of our money to simply send her a love offering so she can buy what she needs since she has to come up with her own financial support.  Please bring at least $1 THIS Sunday, August 16 to Sunday School.  This is a great way to be a part of missions while staying in Greer!

Hope to see you all at Ozone tomorrow night at 7 PM.  Remember to stay for Kickball.

Mission Serve 2009

If I could sum up our Mission Serve experience in one word it would be transparency.  A transparency that come from obedience and brokenness and getting real with who you are and where Christ wants you.  We saw a lot of homes get refurbished and the quality of this earthly life was greatly improved because of the efforts of all of those at Mission Serve.  However, we also saw the realization of this earth not being our final home and the quality of their eternal spiritual life dramatically improve as well. 

Jesus says in John 14:21, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.  and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest (or reveal) myself to him.” (ESV)  We had a week of prolonged obedience that soften our hearts and allowed Jesus to reveal Himself to us.  Obedience does that.  Obedience allows for us to hear more intimately the voice of God and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Some of our students saw this more vividly last week in Norfolk, VA than they have in any other time of their life.  

We are also blessed to see Elliott Hawkins sense a call into ministry and surrender to that call.  This makes a total of 5 young men who have surrendered to a call into ministry this summer.  We are truly blessed, but please pray for these young men.  Elliott, Eric, Kyle, Nathan and Andrew all have a target on their back now and the enemy is going to be gunning for them harder now than ever.  

I was also very proud of Jeff Witt.  Jeff surrendered to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior when he was in the third grade but never followed in Believer’s baptism.  Jeff made that decision this week as well and on Sunday, August 2, 2009 Jeff will be baptized.  

Finally, I want to recognize our adults who ministered along side our students at Mission Serve.  Wanda, Sarah, Zach, Jeff, Mark, Randall, and Scott were all amazing by leading by example.  They loved our youth and were there for them every step of the way.  They supported me greatly and I was humbled by their servant hearts.  But most importantly they loved Jesus in word and deed last week.  Our students are blessed to have Adults who love them and our God as much as they do.

Here is a Glimpse of Man Monday.
Man Monday cannot be explained, but if someone tried to explain it, they might say,
“Man Monday is beast.  We go on epic journeys to places made of rock.”
For more information on Man Monday, ask a man who has participated in Man Monday.
You should even ask to hear the Man Monday theme song.
If all else fails, contact Zach or Chet to inquire about the location of the next Man Monday.
Come experience it for yourself.

We have a special day planned at Six Flags on Tuesday, August 4 to welcome our rising youth to our student ministry and to give ALL involved in our student ministry one more final fling before school.  All our youth are welcome to come to Six Flags on August 4 for only $20, but the rising 7th graders get their tickets for 50% off (only $10). We just need your money by Sunday, July 26. 

We are so excited that our rising 7^th graders are “officially” apart of the Student Ministry.  We want to invite you to be apart of our Wednesday night worship at 7:00 PM called OZONE starting August 5!  I know you probably know all about OZONE, but let me give you a rundown on what to expect.  We have a youth praise band and they do a tremendous job of leading our opening praise and worship time.  This is our time to engage with the Creator of the universe and let Him know how much we love and adore Him.  I then bring an interactive Bible Study that focuses of Scripture and how to apply it in our world.  

Sometimes stepping out takes courage, especially when you’re not sure you fit. Take it from me: You fit just fine. As a matter of fact, we try hard to provide as comfortable a fit as possible for anyone and everyone. That’s what Christ calls us to be-brothers and sisters to each other. 

I hope to see you in OZONE and at Six Flags.

You may register and pay online HERE!

The band did a great job leading us in worship last night.
The teaching was entitled: Living Outside of the Camp

Our Text was Hebrews 13:9-16
       “9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

Since Christ died for us outside of the gate (compared to the OT sacrifices on the Day of Atonement outside of the camp),
we are to go to him outside of the camp.  Our lives should be lived outside of the camp, which is our Spiritual Worship.

Here is a Brief Outline:

Vs. 9: Grace above Foods=Grace Above the Law

Vs. 10: Calvary above Day of Atonement

Vs. 11-12: Jesus suffered outside the camp for Us.
               -His Own Blood (Sufficiency of Christ)
               -Christ above Levitical Priests

Vs. 13: We Belong Outside the Camp
              -Union with Christ (Crucified with Christ Gal. 2.20)
              -Baptism (buried with Christ)

Vs. 14: This city is fading, thus we belong outside of it.
              -There are no Christians in the City
             -John tells us that we must not love the world (1 Jn. 2.15)

Vs. 15: Jesus offered up a Sacrifice, and so should We (but only through Him)
             -Sacrifice Continually, not just during festivals

 Life Outside of the Camp (Sanctified)

 1. A Living Sacrifice
            -Romans 12
            -Our Spiritual Worship

2. Practicing Pure Religion
            -James 1.27
            -Pure and Undefiled=Sacrifice
            -A Faith lived Out — Real —Changes Everything